Condenser



J. F. GRACE March 17, 1931.

coNDENsER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

J HN F. GRACE.

/NVENTOR A TT RNEY J. F. GRACE March 1.7, 1931.

GONDENSER 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

ATTO NEY J. F. GRACE CONDENSER 7, 1929 4 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.

JOHN F'. GRBCE.

`JVVEV'TOR ATT RNEY a 00 ooa oo ooo o 00 o o o oo hvo 00 0 080 000 0 000 00 00 0 o 0 o 0 00 0 o o o 0000 000 0 00 0000000000000000000000000 J.F. GRACE March 17, 1931.

CONDENSER 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec.

Jon N F.. GRGCE.

IN VEN TUR ATT NEY lei-51. u f

Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STA TES" PATENT OFFICE GINIA RSEY,`AssIerNon ro wonTHINGToN PUMP EW YORK, N. Y., A CORPOBATION OF VIR-coNbENsER A plication fiied'nce'mber 7, 1929. seriau. 412,4s1.

This'invention relates to steam'con'densers of the surface typeiand theprimary object of the invention isto which leakage of cooling water,circulated through the tuhesjof the condenser, into the steam chamberand its mixing` with the condensate will 'he prevented. i

In steam con densers, the temperature' of the tubes is 'constantlyfluctuating and the difference between the -temperature of the tubesadjacent to 'the'steam inlet and those remote therefrom, of'a condenserOperating with a `varying load; is constantly fliictuating through awide range.

In the present pure water power plant systenis where boil e'r feedwateris pu'rified and degasified hy deg asification etm, to eliminate to thegreatest possible'extent; corrosi'on'and other detrimental actions onthe *b0ile'r`tubes,

pumps, etc., it is highly desirable to `prevent the crculating coolingwater,` which is not" .treated for the'tubes and mixng with thecondensat'e,` as such mixing counterac'ts to a' certain expurification,` from leaking from tent the action of the 'p'urif'ying'mechanism of the system. i

To overcome such leakage it is necessary to provide fluid tightconnections between the tubes and the tube heads of the condenser; andin so doing cognzance must be taken of and compensation made forvariances in the temperatur-es' in the codenser, varances in theexpansion' and contraction relation of the tubes with the shell orcasing` and tube heads of the condenser, and also difierencesintemperatures locally within the condenser, whereby the tubes in onelocation in the con denser will he subjected to greater or lessertemperatures and temperature Variances than tubes in another part of thecondenser.

The object of the present invention is 'to provide a condenser structurein which both ends of the tubes may be expanded into the tube heads toprovide fluid tight connections and further to provide means for compensating for or acconmodati'ng expansion and contracton'of the tubesundertemperature variances, and also' to accomm'odate unequal` expansionand contraction -of tubes located in various places within' the`condensrdue provide a Condnser in to difl' erences in temperature; the'condenser.

The present invention more specifically comprises a steam condenser ofthe surface type in which the tubes having their ends expanded into thetube heads may bebowed locally within to permit accommodation of theirexpansion" and centi-action, and one in which one or moresupport plates,depending upon the size of the condenseretc., are mounted for movementofsufiicent scope to allow for the expansion and contraction of thetubes.

With these and other objects in View as may appear from the accompanyingspecification, the invention consists in` various features ofConstruction and combination of parts, which will be first described inconnection with the'accompanying drawings, showing a condenser of the"preferred form asembodied in the present inventon, and the featuresforning the invention will be specifically pointed out in the clains.

In the drawingsFigure l is a Vertical cross-section through a stcamcondenser constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the condenser takenonthe line 2`-2 of Figur-el.

F igure 3 is a detail section through the condenser taken on the line ofFigure `l.` F gure 4 s a fragmcntary section infplan niatic views inplan' illustratingvarious ari rangements ofthe prefcrred and modifiedforms of the support plates and condenser structures. I i

Referring more specifically to the drawings, a 'Steam condenser of thesurface type is illustrated embodying a shell 1 having the water boxes 2and 3 located at each end of the shell and including the tube heads 4.Water circulating tuhes 5 of approved construction have their endseXpanded into the tube heads 4 as shown at 6 in Figure 4: of thedrawings. The tuhes 5 serve to circulate cooling water through thecondenser for the purpose of condensing eXhaust steam whichenters theshell l through the eXhaust steam inlet 7 and they have their endseXpanded into the tube heads to provide fluid tight oints and preventthe' leakage of the circulating-water into thesteam or condensing spacewithin the condenser shell. r

Owing to the fact that condensers of this type operate under fiuctuatingloads and tem- Jerature variances, the temperatures, to

` which the tubes 5 are subjected, vary causing expansion andcontraction of the tubes If no provision were .madeto accommodatesuchexpansion and contraction of the tubes, the fluid tight joints formed bythe expanding of the tube ends into the tube heads would he rupturedresulting in considerable leakage of the cooling water into thecondenser, however, in the present invention the tubes 5 are bowed asshown at 8 so as to accommodate their eXpansion and contraction bypermitting suhstantially lateral movement of i the bowed portions of thetubes, without rupturing their connection with the tube heads. Asclearly indicated in the diagrammatic ures 9 tolinclusive thetuhes 5 onone sidezof the longitudinal center ofthe condensershell 1 are bowed inone direction while the tuhes upon the other or opposite side ofthelong'- tudinal center of the condenser are oppositely bowed, thuscausing 'eXpansion of the tuhestowards the shell while their contractionwill be towards the longitudinal center of the condenser shell. i V i iInsurface condensers such as areused in the present type of power plantsthe tubes 5 are of such length in proportion to their diameter that itis necessary to provide support plates for the tuhes between the tubeheads, to prevent sagging of the tuhes and to maintain them in theirproper positions to insure eicient operation of the condenser.

Vith the tuhes bowed as heretofore described, the present inventionprovides means or structures which will permit of the proper supportingof the tuhes intermediate the tube heads, to accommodate the'expandingor contracting movement of the tuhes without ef fecting their connectionwith the supporting means or-plates.- Varous types or forms of' theconstruction of the support plates and the various means associatedtherewith are illustrated, and it is to beun'derstood that thepresentinvention comprehends any and ;all of these forms, andconsequently the broad idea of supporting thetubes intermediate theirends and yet permit of their movem nt under temperature variances. e

The preferred form illustrated in Fgure against l of the drawingscomprises support plates 10 and 11 which have arms 13 formed thereoneXtending downwardly from the lower edges of the support plates 10 and11 into the hot well 9 of the condenser structure. The arms 13 aremounted for pivotal movement upon pivoting pins 14, located in the hotwell and carried hy a supporting web 15. The support plates 10 and 11through which the various tubes 5 eXtend aremounted so as to permitpivotal movement-of the support plates in an edgewise manner outwardlyfrom or inwardly towards the vertical plane bisecting the longitudinalaXis of the condenser shell 1. Since the pivots '14 are in the hot well9, the uppermost portions of the support plates 10 and 11 willconsequently move through greater limits of distanceth an will the loweredges of the support plates which are in proximity tothe hot well andthis is as it should he since the upper part of the condenser nearest tothe exhaust steaminlet 7 is subjected to the highest temperatures andconsequently the tubes in the nests nearest to the exhauststeam iii-let7 expand and contract through wider ranges than those' in the lowerparts of the nests and nearthe hot well.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings the tuhes 5 are arranged in folded,tube nests and a support plate is provided for each nest, but it isto beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to the particulararrangement of tubes as shown.

The support plates 10 and 11 have steadying guides 16 i'ormed thereonwhich engage cooperative steadying slides or guides 17 carried bytheshell 1 oi the condenser. These cooperating steady 'ing guides 167( and17 are positioned remotely from the I pivots 14 and serve to steady aswell as guide the movements' or" the support plates 10 and 11. v

Thesupport plates 10 and 11 are urged into their normal positions orinwardly towards the vertical plane hisecting the longtudinal aXis ofthecondenser by a spring or springs 18 cooperating with spring plates 19'and 20 and bolts 21 and 22 which are connected to the support plates 10and 11 as clearly shown in Fgure 1 of the drawings. The nward'movementof the support plates `1O and 11 are limited by a stop 23 which s ecarried by the support plate 11 and engages the bolt carried spring stopplate 19.

The condenser structure emloodies the divided out or isolated aircooling zones' l through which water circulating tuhes 25 e):- tend.J'Che tubes 25 like 'the tuhes 5 have communication with the water boxes2 and 3, however, they do not extend through the movable support platesand need not he bowed since they are not suhjected to the' same high temeratures as the water circulating tuhes 5 whose function s to condensethe steam. The usual baffles 26 and air outlets 27 are provided.

If it is so desired the tubes which eX- tend through the air coolingzone may be howed both for the purpose oi" compensating for expansionand contraction and to permit drainage of Water therefrom When thecondenser is out of service, also it is to he understood that thesetubes 25 may be carried by inovable support plates it' desired withoutdeparting from the spirit of this in- Vention.

Some condensers are of such size that it will be necessary to providemore than a single set of movable support plates as illustrated inFigures 1 and 2 oi' the drawings. In some such instances theothersupport plates will be located within the condenser shell'in suchposition that accominodation 'for the arms 13 in the hot well will notbe possible and Figure 5 of the drawings illus trates a Constructionwhich will` meet this condition. p

In Figure 5 of the drawings, the support plates 30 and 31 are pivotallynonnted within the condenser shell 32 through the medium of links 33 and34. The links 33 and 34 are pivotally connected to the respective support plates 30 and 31 at or near the horizontal center of the supportplates or condenser by pivoting pins 35. The links 33 and 34 have theirlower ends pivotally connected to the shell 32 by a pivot pin 36 whichis located at the lowermost point in the shell. Thus the support plates30 and 31 are pivotally mount ed on double pivots to permit of theirmovement towarcls or from the vertical plane in which lies thelongitudinal axis of the shell 32 to accommodate expansion orcontraction of the tuhes 37, with the greatest scope oi' movementadjacent to the steam inlet 38 of the shell and lesser scope of movementat the location farthest from the exhaust steam inlet; In this modifiedConstruction illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings steadying guides 39are provided which engage the movable support plates 30 and 31 at theirlower ends for guiding movement ofthese parts of the support plates. Thesupport plates are urged into their normal position, namely towards thevertical plane in which lies the longitudinal center of the condenser,by means of springs 40, 41 and 42. The spring 40 is connected by meansof suitable connections 43 to the facing edges of the support platesnear their highest point or nearest the point farthest from theirpivots. The plate-moving contracting action of the spring 40 isaugmentecl by the expansion of the springs 41 and 42 which engagesuitable bosses 44 on the outer edges of the support plates 30 and 31.`

The tension of thesprings 41 and 42 is regulated by adjusting bolts 45which extend through the casing,`as clearly shown in the drawings. Thecondenser shown in Figure 5, like the condenser shown in Figures 1 and 7includes the air cooling spaces 40 through which extend the tuhes 47which are 'free from connection with the movable support plates.

In Figure 7, a further modified 'form of tle improved eondenserstructure is shown, which modified structure is also adapted 'for use inpoitions ot' the condcnser where the hot Well is not available toreceive the pivoting levers ol" the inovable support plates. The formillustrated in Figure 7 similar in the majority of respects with the'form shown in Figure 1 cit the drawings, that is, the support plates 50and 51 are guided in their movement by cooperating guides and ure urgedtowards the 'vertical plane in which lies the iongitudinal airis ot thecondenser shell 53 by a structure which corresponds to the spring 18 andits cooperating members. The plates 50 and 51 are limited in theirinward novmnent by the stop 52. The difference iu the construction shownin Fi 'ure 7 'from that shown in Figur-e 1 is that the pivoting arms 13ure eliniinatcd and the plates 50 and 51 are mounted upon pivot plus 55which extend through the lower end oi' the outer wings 50 oi? thesupport plates. In other words, the support plates 50 and 51 arepivotally mounted upon the pivot pine 55 which are located atsubstantially the lowest outermost points of the plates and directlyabove the air cooling zones 57 ot' the condenser.

Figure 8 of 'the drawings shows a still further modified form of thecoi-idenser structure and in the condenser shown in this figure the airoli-take is at the center of the condenser as shown at (30 instead of atthe sides as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The support plate 61 iscircular in shape, but it may be shaped as desired to accon'nnodate thetubes 62 which extend therethrough. It is also to be understood that thetuhes 62 may be arranged in any toi-in or arrangement within thecondcnser, without (ilepartiug from the spirit ot' this invention.Uulike the support plates .in Figures 1 to 7 ot the druwings the supportplate 01 is not divided or does not comprise se tions of platespositioned upon op posite sides of the longitudinal center ot thecondenser but is a single plote for supporting all ot' the tubes or anypre-de termined number of the tuhes within the condenser. The supportplote (31 is mounted 'for movement on the air oil-take GO as an axis andthe tubes 62 are bowed in such manner that their ezpansicn Will be in apre-determined direction such as indicated by the arrow A. For exampleall of the tubes are b'owed so that the line of movement of all ot' thetubes upon expansion and contraction will be in a circular directionabout the air oli-take as an axis and such movement will move' the'support plate 61 about the air ofttake as an aXis to accommodate theeX- panson or contraotion movement of the tubes without disrupting theirconnection with the support plate.

lt will be noted that in all of the forms of the condenser heretoforedescribed the support plate or plates of the condenser are movable ponfixed aXes to accommodate eXpansion and contraction of the tubes.

The various. types of support plate structures may be arranged invarious combinations in a condenser to meet the specific conditionsarising in the installation which must he met by the condenser, Figures9 to 13 inclusive illustrate diagrammatically various combinations ofthe difi erent types or forms of the condenser support plates. Forinstance, in Figure 9, the central support plates 10 and 11 are of thetype illustrated in Figure 1, that is, theyvare pivoted at the innerlowermost points or' the support plates as indicated at 14. The twoouter support plate structures are of the type illustr'ated in Figure 5of'the drawingsand consequently the `support plates 30 and 31 aremounted 'or their movement to accommodate expansion and contraction ofthe tubes through the medium of the links 33 and 34 and the pivots 35:and 36, thus in a condenser in which the hot well is of suchsize asonly to accommodate v one set of movable support plates two or three oreven more movable support plates may be provided by combnmg in thecondenser structure the support plates OI" the various figures. F orexample ;the support plates mounted as shown in Figure 7 of the drawingsmight be substituted in the structure illustrated in Figure 9 in lieu ofthe :term as illustrated 'in Figure 5, without departing ironi thespirit in the present invention.

In Figure 10 ot the drawings, the tubes 5 which are bowed, as are all ofthe other tubes in the variousforms of the condenser structure, aresupported intermediate the tube heads i by two sets of movable supportplates which are illustrate'd as oi the typeshown in Figure 7 of thedrawings, that is, the support plates 50 and 51 in each set arepivotally supported by the pivot pine 55 which are at the loweroutermost points ot the support plates.

In Figure 11 of the drawings, a combination of two movahle supportplates 10 and 11 together with two stationary support plates ZO ofapproved Construction of support plate as used at present in acondenser, is illustrated and while this Figure ll shows support platesof 'the type illustrated in Figure 1 ot' the drawings used incombination'with the stationary support plates it is to be understoodthat this figure, like the other diagrammatic figures is merely for thepurpose of illustrating an example of how the support plates v may becombined and consequently the movable support plates of any of the formsmay be used in connection with' stationary support plates, either one ormore, without departing from the spirit of this invention. Also any'number of any form or forms of the support plates illustrated in thevarious figures may be combined; an additional example of which is shownin the diagrammatic Figure 12 which shows two sets of support plates, ofthe type shown in Figure 1 used in combination with two sets of supportplates of the type shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

` Figur& 13 shows diagrammatically, in plan,-the structure asillustrated in Figures l and 2 of the drawings, namely, a condenser inwhich the tubes 5 are bowed intermediate their ends, the tubes on oneside of the longitudinal center of the condenser being bowed in onedirection and those on the other side being'bowed in the oppositedirection. The tubes' are supported intermediate ,the tube heads by thesupport plates 10 and ll which are mounted for pivotal movement as shownin Figure l and heretotore described.

lt will be understood that the invention is to be limited to thespecific Construction or arrangement of parts shown but thatthis may bemodified widelywithin the invention as deined by the claims. hat isclaimed is:

l. In a condenser, a shell, tubes, and support plates for said tubes,one or moreot said support plates being movable relative to said shellon a fixed aXis to accommodate expansion and contraction of said tubes.;

2. In a conden'ser, a shell, tube heads, tubes havingther ends expandedintosaid tube heads, and support plates tor said tubes,:one or more ofsaid support plates being movable relative to said tube heads and on afixed axis to accommodate eXpansion and, contraction of said tubes. i

3. In a condenser, a shell, tube heads, tubes having their ends expandedinto said tube heads and being bowed intermediate 'their ends, supportplates :torfsaid tubes, one or more of said support plates being movablerelative to said tube heads on a fixed aXis and in the direction of thebowing of the tubes.

l. In a condenser,` a shell, tubes, support plates for said tubes, oneor more of said support plates being mounted on fixed aXes for movementrelative'to said shell upon eXpansion or contraction of said tubes, andinterengaging guides carried by the shell and movable support plate forguiding movement of the plate or plates.

5. In a condenser, a shell, tube heads, tubes having their ends expandedinto said tube heads, saidtubes being bowed intermediate their ends, anda support plate for said tubes engaging the bowed portions of the tubesand movable on a fixed aXis.

6. In a condenser, a shell having an eX- Loj haust steam inlet, tubes insaid shell, a pivotally mounted support plate for said tubes, the pivotoi' said plate being located to permit greatest movement of the plate inproximity to the exhanst steam inlet.

7. in a condenser, a shell having an exhaust ste-ani nlet, tubes in saidshell, a support plate tor said tubes novable relative to the shell on afixed axis to accomnodate eX- pension and contraction of said tubes,said being located Whereby the greatest scope of movement of th supportplates Will be in proxini y to said exhaust steam inlet.

8. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein arranged in folded nests, saidtubes being boWed intermediate their ends With the tubes in one nestbowing in one direction from the longitudinal center of said shell andthe tubes in the adjacent nest bowing in the opposite direction fronithe longitudinal center of the shell, a support plate for the tubes ineach nest, said plates being novable on fixed axes in the direction ofthe bows in the tubes to accommodate expansion of the tubes.

9. In a condenscr, a shell, tube heads, tubes having their ends expandedinto said tube heacis and arranged in folded nests, said tubes beingbowed intermediate their ends With the tubes one side of thelongitudinal center of the shell being boWed in one direction and thetubes upon the other side of the longitudnal center of the shell beingoppositely bowed, support plates for the tubes positioned one upon eachside of the longitudnal center or' the shell and novable away froni thelongitudinal center to accomnodate eX- pension of the tubes and movabletowards the longitudinal center of the shell to accominodate contractionof the tubes, an air-cooling Zone in said shell, tubes in saidair-cooling Zone, the tubes in the air-cooling zone being free fromconnection With said movable support plates.

10. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein arranged in nests, apivotally mounted support plate for the tubes in each nest, said supportplates novable upon their pvots to accommodate expansion and contractionof the tubes.

ll. In condenser, a shell, tube heads, tubes having their ends expandedinto said tube heads, pivotally mountcd support plates for said tubesand movable upon their pivots to aecoinmodate ezpansion and contractionof the tubes and means for urgng said support plates into normalposition.

12. ln condenser, a shell, tubes therein being bowed intermediate theirends, pivotally mounted support plates for said tubes novable upon theirpivots in the direction of the boWs of the tubes to accommodateexpansion of the tubes.

13. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein, support plates for saidtubes, links connected to certain of said support plates, said linksbeing pivotally mounted to permit movement of said support plates toacconmodate expansion and contraotion of the tubes.

14. In a condenser, a shell, a` hot Well connected thereto, tubes in theshell, support plates for said tubes, linls associated With certain ofsaid support plates and extending into said hot Well, means pivotallynountin said links to pernit pivotal movement ot the support pla toacconnnodate eXpansion and contravtion of the tubes.

15. In a condenser, a shell having an eX- haust stean inlet, a hot Well,tubes in said shell, pivotally mountod support plates for said tubeshaving their pivots disposed in proximity to said hot Well Whereby thegreatest scopo of movement of the support plates Will be in proxirnityto said exhaust steam inlet.

16. ln a condenser, a shell, tubes therein, said tubes being bowed, asupport plate for said tubes novable on a fixed axis relative to saidshell'in the direction of how of the tubes to accomnodate expansion ofthe tubes, means for noving said support plate in the opposite directionupon contraction of ,said tubes, and guides on said support plate andcasing 'for guiding movement of the support plate.

17. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein arranged in folded nests,said tubes being bowod intermediate their ends With the tubes in onenest bowng in one direction from the longitudinal center of said shelland the tubes in the adjacent nest bowing in the opposite direction fromthe longitudinal center of the shell, a pivotally mounted support platefor the tubes in each nest, said plates being movable in the directionof the bows in the tubes to accommodate expansion of the tubes, andsteady slides carried by said plates and shell for steadying and guidingmovement of said plates.

18. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein being bowed intermediatetheir ends, pivotally mounted support plates for said tubes movable upontheir pivots in the direction of the bows of the tubes to accommodateeX- pansion ot the tubes, and springs connected to said pivot supportingplates for urging them in the normal position.

19. In a condenser, a shell, tubes, support plates for said tubes, oneor more of said support plates being pivotall mounted for movementrelative to said shell upon -expansion or contraction of said tubes, andinterengaging guides carried by the shell and movable support plate forguiding movement of the plate or plates, and means for limitin g themovement of said plate or plates.

20. In a condenser, a shell, tube heads, tubes having their endsexpanded into said tube heads, a support plate novable relative to saidtube heads on a .fixed axis to accomnodate expansion and contraction ofsaid plate into normal position.

21. In a `condenser,'a shell, tubes, support d plates for said tubes,links pvotally connected to said shell 'and pvotally connected tocertain of said support plates in substantelly the plane of thetransverse centre of the Shell.

22. 'In a condenser, a shell tubes, support plates for said tubes, linkspvotally connected to said shell and pvotally connected to certain ofsaid support plates in substantally the plane of the transverse centreof theshell guides carred by said shell and engagng sad suoport' platesfor guding their movement', and yeldable means for urgng the supportplates nto normal position.

23. In a conclenser, e shell, a hot Well, tubes in the shell, a,pluralty of support plete 2 structures for said tubes, eachcomprsng apair of support plates, links formed upon certain of said support platesand eXtendng into said hot Well, means pvotally connectng said links tosaid hot Well to permt pvotal 5 movement of the support plates, thesupport plate structures adjacent to the 'support plates pvotallyconnected to said hot well i having links pvotally connectedthereto,said p links being pvotally connected to said shell, '30 Whereby all of'said support plates may move onfiXed axes to accommodate expanson andcontraction of the tubes. r

In testnony Whereof I affiX In'ysignature.

JOHN F. GRACE tubes, and means for 'urgng said m'ovable

